Property Law and Real Estate Commons^™

Learning From Land Use Reforms: Housing Outcomes And Regulatory Change, Noah Kazis

Law & Economics Working Papers

This essay serves as the introduction for an edited, interdisciplinary symposium of articles studying recent land use reforms at the state and local level. These papers provide important descriptive analyses of a range of policy interventions, using quantitative and qualitative methods to provide new empirical insights into zoning reform strategies.

After situating and summarizing the collected articles, the Introduction draws out shared themes. For example, these essays demonstrate the efficacy of recent reforms, not only at facilitating housing production but at doing so in especially difficult contexts (like when producing affordable housing and redeveloping single-family neighborhoods). They point to the …

Eminent Domain For The Seizure Of Underwater Mortgages, Sarah Thompson

University of Michigan Journal of Law Reform Caveat

Like many cities in the United States, Richmond, California suffered greatly from the recent mortgage crisis. The foreclosure crisis hit Richmond hard in 2009, when more than 2,000 homes in Richmond went into foreclosure. This figure is especially shocking given that there were 18,659 owner-occupied housing units in the city at that time. In 2012, the city saw an additional 914 foreclosures and a foreclosure rate of thirty out of 1,000 homes (well above the national average of thirteen of every 1,000 homes). Today, it is reported that nearly forty-six percent of homes in Richmond are “underwater,” meaning that what …

The Community Reinvestment Act: Its Impact On Lending In Low-Income Communities In The United States, Michael S. Barr, Lynda Y. De La Vina, Valerie A. Personick, Melissa A. Schroder

Book Chapters

This paper reviews data and research studies that demonstrate that CRA has helped to increase lending to low-income borrowers and in low-income neighborhoods, and that expanded CRA lending has been accomplished while maintaining sound lending practices and bank profitability. The paper also discusses literature that draws alternative conclusions, as well as studies that find, despite increases in lending and banking services to low- and moderate-income areas and to minority borrowers, that disparities still exist between the services afforded to these communities and those offered to the market as a whole.

The Tragedy Of The Anticommons: Property In The Transition From Marx To Markets, Michael A. Heller

Articles

Why are many storefronts in Moscow empty, while street kiosks in front are full of goods? In this Article, Professor Heller develops a theory of anticommons property to help explain the puzzle of empty storefronts and full kiosks. Anticommons property can be understood as the mirror image of commons property. By definition, in a commons, multiple owners are each endowed with the privilege to use a given resource, and no one has the right to exclude another When too many owners hold such privileges of use, the resource is prone to overuse - a tragedy of the commons. Depleted fisheries …

Moving From Colonias To Comunidades: A Proposal For New Mexico To Revisit The Installment Land Contract Debate, Elizabeth M. Provencio

Michigan Journal of Race and Law

Communities of Mexican Americans in the Southwest, known as colonias, have provided many low-income buyers with affordable opportunities. Affordability, however, comes at a high price for the colonias residents. Most of the buyers live in colonias pursuant to installment land contracts, devices which allow buyers to spread the purchase price of property over a number of years but leave them without legal title or equity under New Mexico law. The buyers sacrifice their legal rights to "own" small, unimproved lots of land in developments that are often without electricity, gas, a sewage system, and indoor plumbing. The author argues …

Condominium Conversion Of Residential Rental Units: A Proposal For State Regulation And A Model Act, Bernard V, Keenan

University of Michigan Journal of Law Reform

This Article has several objectives. Part I provides a foundation for discussion by briefly outlining the relationship between the recent history of the rental housing market and those factors prompting the conversion of apartments to condominium status. With this background information, the relevance of conversion legislation is more readily grasped. Part II seeks to establish that state government is the appropriate governmental entity to formulate legislation intended to protect individuals affected by the conversion of rental units. Federal legislation has addressed this specific issue in the relatively unknown Condominium and Cooperative Conversion Protection and Abuse Relief Act of 1980. In …

The Taming Of A Duty--The Tort Liability Of Landlords, Olin L. Browder

Michigan Law Review

For one inclined to reform the first-year curriculum in law schools the most simple and comprehensive solution is to expand the treatment of the law on landlord and tenant, and only then break up into the traditional basic subjects to deal with matters not previously covered. Thereby one could embrace all the traditional first-year subjects except Criminal Law, and a good deal more as well.

The other side of this conceit is that one who approaches the modem law of landlord and tenant from traditional property perspectives encounters particular problems that arise from the margins, or along the frontal thrust, …

Exclusionary Zoning: A Wrong In Search Of A Remedy, Leonard S. Rubinowitz

University of Michigan Journal of Law Reform

This article discusses affirmative approaches to providing effective relief in two types of exclusionary zoning cases: (1) remedies specific to a particular proposed development or a given site and (2) regional remedies, which provide a generalized framework for meeting what courts are increasingly identifying as a regional problem: the need for decent housing for all families. In the first instance (the "single-site" case) a court would remove obstacles in order to facilitate development of low- and moderate- income housing on a particular suburban site. In the second case (the regional approach) a court would specify the obligation of the municipalities …

The Interrelationship Between Excusionary Subdivision Control - A Second Look, Roger A. Cunningham

University of Michigan Journal of Law Reform

The thesis of this article is that the conclusion set out above is both oversimplified and inaccurate. Contrary to the author's contention in his Journal article, there are "viable distinctions between zoning and subdivision control," and consequently the major exclusionary techniques available to suburban communities through "zoning" are simply not available in connection with "subdivision control." Dramatic attempts at racial exclusion through subdivision control are likely to be infrequent. Although subdivision regulations, like zoning ordinances and building codes, require expenditures by land developers which increase the cost of housing and thus tend to exclude the poor, the effect of subdivision …

Prior Lien On Rents And Profits Upheld As A Method Of Financing Repairs- In Re Dep't Of Bldgs., Michigan Law Review

Michigan Law Review

Official findings of the New York Legislature in 1962 revealed the existence in certain cities of housing conditions which, unless immediately corrected, might cause irreparable damage to buildings or endanger the life, health and safety of their occupants or the general public. To facilitate the correction of these conditions and to increase the supply of adequate, safe dwelling units, the legislature enacted the 1962 Receivership Law, which creates a procedure enabling a city to enforce its housing codes by compelling needed repairs and improvements.

Condominium--Home Ownership For Megaopolis?, John E. Cribbet

Michigan Law Review

The past year, 1962, witnessed no let up in the cold war between East and West. In the race for the conquest of space, in the battle of national rates of economic growth, in the propaganda struggle to fix the responsibility for nuclear testing, in the trial of strength over Cuba, and in countless other areas, each bloc leader continued to measure achievement against the rival's successes or defeats. The cold war is a deadly business and produces little to warm the cockles of a man's heart, but, if only the threat of nuclear destruction could be averted, there is …

Real Property - Mortgages - Liability Of Mortgagee Of Lessee's Term For Rent, Michael B. Lewiston S.Ed.

Michigan Law Review

Respondent leased a building to South Texas Kitchens, Inc., for a term of five years. The lessee became indebted to petitioner and, being unable to meet this obligation, transferred its business assets and lease to petitioner as security. Petitioner was authorized to manage the business and to apply all proceeds to discharge the indebtedness, the transfer to terminate when the debt was fully paid. Petitioner went into possession of the premises and operated the business for about six months, paying the rent during that period. It then vacated the property and ceased making rental payments. Respondent sued petitioner and the …

Real Property - Adverse Possession - Title Acquired By Husband And Wife, Richard S. Rosenthal, George F. Lynch S.Ed.

Michigan Law Review

John and Maltie Preston moved onto a parcel of land in 1910 where they lived until 1950 when John died intestate. Maltie died intestate in 1954. Title to the land had been perfected by twenty years adverse possession. Evidence showed that the adverse possession was intended to inure to their joint benefit. Complainants, collateral heirs of John, sued in ejectment claiming that John took the whole title by exclusive adverse possession. Defendants, collateral heirs of Maltie, claimed a tenancy by the entirety had been created, with the survivor, Maltie, becoming the sole owner. The court of appeals ruled that the …

Real Property - Joint Tenancy - Effect Of Contract To Convery By Joint Tenants Of Entire Interest In Property As A Severance Of The Joint Tenancy, George W. Marti

Michigan Law Review

H and W, as owners of certain real state in joint tenancy with rights of survivorship, contracted to convey this property. Prior to conveyance, and while part of the purchase price still remained to be paid, H died. Petitioner, an heir of H, brought action in equity for a declaratory judgment to determine the effect of a contract to convey land held in joint tenancy. The lower court held the joint tenancy had been terminated by the contract of sale and the contract to convey was held by H and W as tenants in common so that on …

Real Property - Landlord And Tenant - Lessor's Arbitrary Withholding Of Consent To Sublease, William G. Mateer S.Ed.

Michigan Law Review

Defendant leased a portion of plaintiff's building for a seven-year period. Contained in the lease was a covenant whereby the lessee agreed not to assign or sublet without the lessor's consent. One year prior to the expiration date of the lease, the defendant gave notice of his intention to vacate and submitted to the plaintiff a proposed sublease under which the premises would be rented to the Postmaster General of the United States. The plaintiff stipulated that the proposed sublessee was ready, able, and willing to assume the obligations of the original lease and was a proper sublessee in every …

Constitutional Law - Due Process - Adequacy Of Notice By Publication, Cyril Moscow S.Ed.

Michigan Law Review

In condemnation proceedings instituted by a city against a landowner, notice of proceedings to determine his compensation was given only by publication in the official city newspaper. The statute in force called for notice either in writing or by publication. After the time authorized for appeal from a compensation award had elapsed, the landowner brought an equitable action to enjoin the city from entering upon the property, alleging that he knew nothing of the condemnation proceedings until after the time for appeal had passed. The trial court denied relief, holding that the newspaper publication was sufficient notice to meet due …

Compulsory Joinder Of Parties In Civil Actions, John W. Reed

Michigan Law Review

Compulsory joinder cases involving interests in land display one peculiar and important characteristic: there is almost never any need in the state courts to wrestle with the question of whether a person is indispensable as distinguished from necessary. One hastens to add that this attribute of land cases appears to have gone largely unnoticed, but it exists none the less. It arises out of the fact that in a suit involving real property it is never impossible for the court to obtain jurisdiction over all persons interested therein to an extent which will enable the court to adjudicate controversies over …

Real Property - Landlord And Tenant - Need For Lessee Who Transfers Whole Term To Base Right Of Re-Entry On Condition Of "Substantial Advantage" To Him, John A. Beach S.Ed.

Michigan Law Review

Plaintiff lessee transferred his interest in the first floor and basement of certain commercial premises for the full remaining period of his own lease, retaining his interest in the second floor, where he lived. This transfer was in form a sublease, under which plaintiff as sublessor reserved power to cancel the sublease and take possession without notice if the premises were used for any purpose other than an off-sale liquor store. Plaintiff's transferee later assigned all his interest to defendant corporation, which immediately began converting the premises into an ice cream store. After defendant had spent over $10,000 in remodeling, …

Taxation - Federal Income Tax - Renting Out A Single Home As A Trade Or Business For Purposes Of Capital Loss Carry-Over, Alice Austin S.Ed.

Michigan Law Review

Taxpayer, who was not in the real estate business and who was involved in only occasional real estate transactions, inherited a house which he rented out until he sold it at a loss. He treated the transaction as a capital loss, taking advantage of the capital loss carry-over provisions of the Internal Revenue Code. Deficiency assessments were levied against the taxpayer upon the theory that the loss sustained upon the sale of the house was an ordinary loss which could not be carried over to later years. Taxpayer paid the deficiency assessment and sued for a refund. The district court …

Landlord And Tenant-Interpretation Of Clause In A Lease Providing For Termination In Event Of Destruction Of Premises, Alan C. Boyd

Michigan Law Review

The plaintiff leased property from the defendant for a term of years. The lease provided that the lessor should repair damage from fire and that "the tenancy shall not be terminated unless such repairs shall require more than ninety days." A fire occurred which damaged the property so badly that it could not be repaired within ninety days. The lessor took the position that the tenancy had automatically terminated with the occurrence of the fire. The lessee filed a bill for a declaratory judgment, claiming that under the terms of the lease he had the option either to terminate or …

Recent Important Decisions, Michigan Law Review

Michigan Law Review

No abstract provided.

Recent Important Decisions, Michigan Law Review

Michigan Law Review

Bankruptcy--Discharge of Bankrupt From Arrest--Claims--Judgment--Willful and Malicious Injury; Bills and Notes--anomalous Indorser; Bills and Notes--Innocent Holder of Note Given on the Sale of "Futures"; Constitutional Law--Imprisonment for Debt; Elections--Constitutionality of "Terrell Election Law"; Eminent Domain--Accretions--Extending Highway--Compensation; Guaranty--Consideration--Past and Future Advances; Intoxicating Liquors--Right to Withdraw Names from Local Option Petition; Intoxicating Liquors--Sale of Malt Tonic; Landlord and Tenant--Change in Law Preventing Use of Part of Premises--Abatement of Rent; License--Parol Permission to Use Lands--Revocation of, After Expenditures by Licensee; Mandamus--Nature of the Remedy; Master and Servant--Injuries to Third Persons; Master and Servant--Injuries to Third Persons--Dual Relation--Proximate Cause; Monopolies--Right to Recover on Monopolistic …

Recent Important Decisions, Michigan Law Review

Michigan Law Review

Administrators--deduction of Debts--Statute of Limitations; Agency--Authority to Indorse Negotiable Paper; Agency--Notice--Adverse Interest; Carriers--United States Mail--Liability of Railroad Company for Negligent Loss of Registered Letter; Corporation--Capital Stock--Contracts to Repurchase; Criminal law--Contempt of Court--Concerted Action to Influence Trial; Damages--Sale of Realty--Breach of Vendor's Contract; Equity--Mistake of Law--Recovery of Money Paid for Improvements on Another's Land; Landlort and Tenant--Insolvent Corporation--Accruing Rent; Limitation of Actions--Mortgages; malicious Prosecution--Abuse of Process--Sending Claim to Anothe rState for Collection to Avoid Local Exemptions; Malicious Prosecution--Cevil Cases; Malicious Prosecution--Probable Cause; Marriage--Common Law--present Consent; master and Servant--Assumption of Risk--Neglect of Statutory; Master and Servant--Assumption of Risk--Neglectof Statutory Duty; Municipal Corporations--Local …